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The Conservative Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has refused Liberal Democrat and local resident calls to reject the Hornsey Depot application.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone and Hornsey Councillor Monica Whyte both wrote to the Mayor, and asked him not to approve the application in its current form. They repeated the concerns on quality of development, housing density and impact on local trade and traffic – alongside concerns about drainage and possible damp problems on the depot site.

The Mayor of London had the power to instruct the Council to reject the application or to take over the application himself – however he opted to do neither.

The rubber stamping is the latest bad news in the on-going Hornsey Depot saga. Local Liberal Democrats and residents remain outraged, as Labour-run Haringey Council approved the application, despite objections from Hornsey Liberal Democrat councillors and local residents.

At Council level, the application went through on the Labour Chair’s casting vote even though all the Liberal Democrat members on the committee voted against the application.

Hornsey Campaigner Dawn Barnes said:

“Local residents are really worried about this development. It’s clear that the Labour-run Council have rushed this through and missed the chance to make crucial amendments. Now the Conservative Mayor has let us down, too.

“We’ll continue to speak up for residents, to try and get the best deal possible for Hornsey.”

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It’s appalling that such a flawed application has been waived through by both the Labour Council and now, the Conservative Mayor.

“The Liberal Democrats in Hornsey will keep representing local residents and fighting for changes to these plans.

“We will be going back to the developers, and I’ll be writing to Sainsbury’s to ask that they recruit local residents to work in the store once it’s open. It is so important that local residents benefit from this development as much as possible.”

Local residents and Liberal Democrats have expressed their outrage today, after Haringey Labour councillors forced through the Hornsey High Street planning application without crucial amendments being made.

The developers can now push ahead with plans to build a Sainsbury’s, a car park, and housing on the old Hornsey Depot site.

The Liberal Democrats have long supported local residents’ demands to amend the application – echoing their concerns about the quality and density of housing, the effect on local trade, and traffic implications.

Liberal Democrat councillors on the planning committee voted for the application to be refused permission, because changes to the plans were needed. But Labour voted to go ahead with the plans and forced the application through on the Labour Chair’s casting vote.

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The vast majority of people want to see development on this site – but it must benefit the local area, and be approved by local people.

“The Labour-run Council obviously don’t see it like this – and have instead waived through a flawed application. I am furious – and so are local residents.”

Hornsey campaigner Dawn Barnes commented:

“My colleagues and I are outraged that the application has been waived through by Labour councillors. What a slap in the face for Hornsey residents who so convincingly argued for amendments to be made.

“Labour have proved once again that they cannot be trusted to look after the interests of local people – they prefer to please their developer friends and Town Hall bosses instead.

“Here in Hornsey, I will continue to work with your local MP and councillors Lynne Featherstone, Robert Gorrie, Errol Reid and Monica Whyte to get the best deal possible for local people.”

The Hornsey Depot application – which would see a Sainburys and over 400 new homes built on Hornsey High Street – has been deferred. This decision was made despite Labour-run Haringey Council’s planning officers saying planning permission should be granted.

At the meeting in Wood Green, Lib Dem Cllr Monica Whyte argued that the developers needed to make changes to the planned development on Hornsey High Street to address local residents’ concerns.

Local Lib Dem councillors and Lynne Featherstone MP had already formally lodged objections to the plans before the meeting – which included concerns about the quality and management of flats in the neighbouring New River site, which were built by the same developer.

Other issues raised by residents and politicians include:

The height of the proposed buildings

The density of the development

Limited play areas for children

The size of the Sainsbury’s store and its impact on local traders.

As a result of the Liberal Democrat and local resident concerns, the Committee deferred the decision and requested that the developers come back with revised plans taking into account residents’ views.

Monica Whyte, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Hornsey, comments:

“I welcome the decision to defer the application for the development of the Hornsey Depot site. We want the site developed but the concerns of residents must be taken into account. The developers need to revise their plans and do more to address the concerns of local residents.

“We want to see the right development on Hornsey High Street, which brings benefits to the local community. The plans put forward last night were just not good enough.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, comments:

“This is good news for local residents. I hope the delay will mean that the developers take heed and listen to the concerns that the Haringey Lib Dems and residents have raised, and revise their plans accordingly.

“The problems at the New River Village, which I am still campaigning on, can’t be ignored. The developer must also show that lessons have been learnt from that before any further changes are made to our community.”

Lynne Featherstone MP has submitted a response to the application to build a Sainsbury’s supermarket, a car park, and over 400 flats on the old Depot site on Hornsey High Street.

The application was submitted by Sainsbury’s and the developers St James’ last year, and will be discussed by Haringey Council – who will make the final decision on the application – on the 20th January.

In the response, the Liberal Democrat MP outlined concerns about the impact of the development of local businesses and high street, along with concerns about increased traffic, the height of the development, quality of housing and impact on local services such as schools and doctors surgeries.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green held a public meeting to discuss the development in November, and together with the Haringey Lib Dems, asked thousands of residents for their views about the plans. Residents’ views arising from the meeting and survey have been used to inform the response.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Nobody wants this site to remain derelict, but the consequences of over-development or pushing ahead with plans against the will and advice of local residents could harm our local area.

“Concerns remain about the impact on local traders, the increased traffic, the quality of housing and the increased demand on local schools and GPs a surge in population will cause. These concerns and more are outlined in detail in my response.

“These considerations must be addressed before local residents and I can fully support the planned development.”

I declare an interest in Hornsey High Street. My constituency office is based there, above the Three Compasses pub! As such, I spend a lot of time on the High Street – popping into the shops and cafes and talking to local residents.

The old Depot site on the High Street (almost opposite the pub) has been a point of contention for many years. Parts of the site have been derelict since 1998 and the land is desperately underused, as Labour-run Haringey Council has continuously failed to strike a suitable deal with a developer.

Now, a new developer is on the scene. St James has put in a planning application to build a Sainsbury’s supermarket, 400 homes, a car park and a gym on the site. A development of this scale will have an impact on our local area, and it’s vital that local residents and shopkeepers get to have their say.

That’s why I called a public meeting, held last Friday, to give residents a platform and a chance to put their views to both Sainsbury’s and one of the project architects. St James and the Labour councillor in charge of planning were invited to attend, but both declined – a shocking decision in my opinion.

Despite this, almost 150 residents attended. It is clearly an application they feel very strongly about, and Sainsbury’s and the architect faced some very tough but valid questions.

There were some serious concerns about the effect of the development on local trade. Thankfully, the plans for a Sainsbury’s cafe have already been withdrawn, but the traders were still concerned that the supermarket alone will pose a threat to their livelihoods.

Residents were also concerned about the increase in traffic, and whether local services such as doctors’ surgeries and schools could accommodate hundreds more adults and children. There are also issues with the height of the development and the views of Alexandra Palace it will block.

I asked a question about the quality of new accommodation. New housing is much needed, but it must be built to last. St James built the New River Village development, and worryingly, I am currently fighting for residents there who are experiencing damp and flooding in their properties.

Based on the strength of feeling at the meeting, I think all of these concerns need to be addressed before the local community will support this development.

The Development Control Forums – which Haringey Council and St James have to attend – are taking place on the 26th and 27th of November at Grieg City Academy. This is the next chance for residents to find out more, voice their opinions and get some answers.

Labour-run Haringey Council will then make the final decision on the application, most likely in January.

The Haringey Liberal Democrats and I have been asking residents for their views already, and will continue to do so. We have recorded the views from the public meeting and will be representing them in our response to the planning application consultation. To add you voice – contact me.

Almost 150 residents attended a packed public meeting on Friday to discuss the future of Hornsey High Street.

The meeting was called by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone, after developers St James put in a planning application to build a supermarket, a car park, over 400 flats and a gym on the old Hornsey depot site.

Representatives from Sainsbury’s and the project architects attended to answer questions. Haringey Council (who will make the decision on the application) and developers St James both declined invitations to attend.

Local business owners and residents raised concerns about the effect of the development on local trade, the increase in traffic, the impact on local services such as schools and doctors, and the height of the new buildings.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The large number of people in the meeting is testament to the strength of feeling about this development.

“A number of very serious concerns were raised. I asked a question about the housing. St James built the New River Village development, and worryingly, I am currently fighting for residents there who are experiencing damp and flooding in their properties.

“Based on the strength of feeling at the meeting, I think all of the concerns need to be addressed before the local community can support this development.

“The Haringey Liberal Democrats and I have asked residents for their views already, and will continue to do so. We will represent residents’ views in our response to the planning application consultation.”

Good news – I’ve just had confirmation that both Sainsburys and St James will attend the public meeting I have called on the future of Hornsey High Street.

We will be discussing the planning application for the Hornsey Depot site on Hornsey High Street. The developers, St James, plan to demolish the existing structures to make way for a Sainsburys supermarket, a car park, over 400 flats and a gym.

The meeting will take place this Friday (the 15th) at 6:30pm, at Greig City Academy – entrance via Hillfield Avenue – and is open to all.

Residents will have the chance to put their questions and opinions across.

I’m glad that both the developers and Sainsburys have agreed to attend this meeting and engage further with residents – on top of the work they have already done in this regard.